The 1955 Packards were likely the last cars that Packard built before any tinkering from Studebaker could take place. These two companies combined into one in mid-1954 to become the Studebaker-Packard Corporation, so the 1955 models were already a done deal. That included this stately Packard Four Hundred 2-door hardtop, a new car for 1955-56 that was one of Packard’s finest. It may be an original car whose body and paint look to be in a little better condition than the interior. As a tip brought to us by Larry D, the automobile is on the property of an antique store named after the brand in Huntsville, Alabama. This beauty is available here on craigslist for $9,900.
Four Hundreds were some of the last cars to be built at Packard’s Detroit facilities, which the merged company disposed of after the 1956 models. Packard resurrected the Four Hundred name in ’55 to represent its senior coupes. The cars wore a full-color band along the lower portion of the bodies topped by a partial color band that truncated along the rear edge of the front doors. “The Four Hundred” name appeared in gold anodized script within the band between the front wheel well and door edge. 7,206 copies of the Four Hundred were produced in 1955 with 3,224 more to follow in 1956. After that, in 1957-58 Packard’s simply became rebadged Studebakers before the plug was pulled on the storied marque.
Because so few of these cars likely survive today, it would be nice to know some of the history of this 67-year-old vehicle. But unfortunately, that’s not to be, perhaps because the seller doesn’t have those details. The body looks good with just a little sign of rust and the aqua and white paint presents quite well. On the other hand, the interior (which appears to be original) is rough around the edges due to its many years of service. An owner striving for perfection would restore the passenger compartment.
Under the hood should be Packard’s 352 cubic inch V8 and we’re told the car runs and drives well at a reported nearly 70,000 miles. The seller is including more than $3,000 in parts that will go with the deal, although no photos or descriptions of them are provided. The seller says the title is missing, which may be one reason why the price has recently been reduced from $14,500 to $9,900. This car must sell soon so maybe the seller is motivated to do even better.
It is a beautiful car but I see that compared to its competitors, in 1955, this Packard has many adornments and colors in the body that produce a less harmonious look. Despite being a Packard.
Was this the trend at that time?
Wow. That’s quite a car and in really nice condition for $9k, even the original $14k ask.
Mind boggling how this beauty is so affordable where anything MOPAR at $9k gets you a rusted out husk of a “car”.
I love this car and glad I’m not sucked into the elitism of the worlds want a be’s.
if packard was not so head strong to push packards and started to make studebakers ill bet they would still be in the car business!
Agreed. If Packard had left Studebaker alone, and when Briggs was sold, used their debt-free status and good credit to buy or build a body line…they could have continued as a high-status independent.
Perhaps eventually buying American Motors, which was not yet desperate, but not so secure in their customer base.
But a big problem was, the Packard management. CEO at the time was James J. Nance…I don’t know his background, but once he was booted out of Studebaker-Packard, he became a bank executive! In Cleveland…IIRC, a bank called Central National Bank, which was, in Nance style, merged into one of its competitors, after several rough quarters.
how true you are!
I love this car and wish I had the money to bring it home with me. I was 13 when this car hit the road and I just stared because it struck me as being a beautiful car. Packard was a standard back in the day and a beauty to behold.
Packard had some beautiful colors. Are we sure they weren’t built in Cuba? T-He.
When I see cars like this from “yesteryear” it make me sad to see just how badly the styling of cars has digressed. Today, most all of the available cars look pretty much the same, like different colored jelly beans (read no style or character).
they are just making throw away cars! so they can sell you another!
Leaning a bit heavily on Wikipedia, no? Changing a word here and there doesn’t make your own work:
Wikipedia: Visual cues that helped to easily identify the 400 included a full color band along the lower portion of the car topped by a partial color band that truncated along the rear edge of the front doors. “The Four Hundred” in gold anodized script adorned the band between the front wheel well and door edge.
BF writer: The cars wore a full-color band along the lower portion of the bodies topped by a partial color band that truncated along the rear edge of the front doors. “The Four Hundred” name appeared in gold anodized script within the band between the front wheel well and door edge.
Hey, if a little plagiarism is good enough for Hunter’s daddy, it’s good enough for Barn Finds.
Nance absolutely destroyed Packard. Terrible CEO in all respects.
the idea came from crysler corp.
Sad to see there is less and less interest in cars from the ’50s. 20-25 years ago you couldn’t buy this car for $9k. The guys who loved these cars are dying off or are too old to enjoy them anymore. You have to sell them pretty cheap to move them nowadays. I wonder if 1960s muscle cars will suffer the same fate when their owners start dying off. This Packard seems to be a nice car even though it needs some new upholstery and maybe a few other bits attended to. It’s certainly cheap enough to put some money into.
Excellent comment.